project 365. [take two.]

Nativity.  

For my own sake of record, I thought I’d post here about our living nativity photo shoot.

A few thoughts:

1.  I have really great friends.  They are supportive and dream with me, and GET IT.

2.  My friend’s kids are ridiculously cute.

3.  There may not have been a giraffe, or a puppy dog in the stable, but that doesn’t really matter.  

4.  Glitter is a fun photo prop.  

5.  Bringing the nativity to life is a great way to start the Christmas season.  

Want to see the whole thing? (Warning, there are 236 photos of cuteness.)  Click here.

Humbling, startling, GIF.  reality.

sunisup:

This is a series of maps charting the shrinkage of Native American lands over time, from 1784 to the present day.  Made because I was having trouble visualizing the sheer scale of the land loss, and reading numbers like “blah blah million acres” wasn’t really doing it for me.  The gif is based on a collection of maps by Sam B. Hilliard of Louisiana State University.  You can see the original map here.

For those who do prefer dealing in numbers, here are some:

By 1881, Indian landholdings in the United States had plummeted to 156 million acres. By 1934, only about 50 million acres remained (an area the size of Idaho and Washington) as a result of the General Allotment Act* of 1887. During World War II, the government took 500,000 more acres for military use. Over one hundred tribes, bands, and Rancherias relinquished their lands under various acts of Congress during the termination era of the 1950s.

By 1955, the indigenous land base had shrunk to just 2.3 percent of its original size.

—In the Courts of the Conqueror by Walter Echo-Hawk

* The General Allotment Act is also known as the Dawes Act.

Edit: Got rid of some of the fold lines and discoloration on the gif.  *is anal*

stu- stu- studio [365:365]

Em and Micah once again graciously allowed me to stay with them on my way back through the plains.

and Em took me next door to her studio….with final projects still pinned up on the walls.  ah, its amazing how easily models and maps and evidence of all nighters and creativity can stir up so many memories.  and a sort of longing for the world of architecture as a student.  ::sigh::

far above the golden valley [364:365]

far above the golden valley,

glorious to view, 

stands our noble alma mater,

towering towards the blue.

lift the chorus ever onward, 

crimson and the blue,

Hail to thee, our alma mater,

Hail, to ole KU.

(do you see it?  do you see the tiny frasier in the distance?  believe it or not, its the second highest point in the entire state of Kansas….)

winter wonderland [363:365]

a family photo in which I do not know the history: it ended up on my camera as my dad is converting slides into digital photos.

gingerbread decorating [362:365]

ten-forty-four [361:365]

how many memories can one house hold?  I’m not sure many can hold more than 1044.

Ten-forty-four is the address, but it is also it’s name.  its the place where my dad’s memories began, and then we lived there from my 6th grade year until my 10th.  

walnut trees and hide-outs, a junk drawer and a room just for music.  Gran’s dress up box and plays put on by my cousin’s.  this house is full of so many memories.

adorable [360:365]

elli and jeff make REALLY cute kids….

love [359:365]

ella bella twirling in snow [358:365]

presents! [357:365]

crazy dog [356:365]

incredible fog [355:365]